Calocypha laidlawi

Calocypha laidlawi,^[2] or myristica sapphire,^[3][4] is a rare species of damselfly belonging to the family Chlorocyphidae. It is found only from Karnataka and Kerala in South India.^[1][5]

Calocypha laidlawi
Male
Female
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Suborder:	Zygoptera
Family:	Chlorocyphidae
Genus:	Calocypha
Species:	C. laidlawi
Binomial name
Calocypha laidlawi (Fraser, 1924)
Synonyms
Rhinocypha laidlawi Fraser, 1924

Description and habitat

It is a small damselfly with big eyes and several vermilion spots on the head. Its thorax is dark with a narrow vermilion mark on dorsum and pale yellow marks on the lower part of lateral sides. The apical third of each wing is black with dark violet-metallic reflections. Its abdomen is black, marked with bright azure blue on segments 1 to 8.^[6]

Female is black with yellow markings on the face, thorax and abdomen. Abdomen is black, marked with yellow mid-lateral stripes and dots in segments 2 to 7. Fore-wings are transparent. Apices of the hind-wings are broadly brown. Pterostigma are with inner half black and outer half white.^[6]

It breeds in forest streams and rivers flowing through the myristica swamps. It is commonly found perched on half-submerged logs in mid-stream or resting on twigs overhanging the river.^{[7][6][8][3][4]} It is a shade-lover; found perched on partially submerged logs in mid-stream or resting on overhanging twigs in the river.^[6]

See also

• List of odonates of India
• List of odonata of Kerala